SAN JOSE – It wasn’t a shock to Sharks gamers to listen to a report that normal supervisor Mike Grier is prepared to take heed to commerce gives for the overwhelming majority of gamers on the group.
“I’ve performed for 14 years and I knew I may get traded at any level at any time in any 12 months,” ahead Nick Bonino stated. “So I’d hope each GM within the league listens to commerce gives and tries to enhance the group.”
“It’s a enterprise,” captain Logan Couture stated to reporters. “You play sports activities, you perceive that adjustments occur.”
“They’re making an attempt to fill the 4 minutes on Insider Buying and selling,” defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic stated of the TSN present. “It’s early within the 12 months.”
Grier is open to listening on any participant on the roster except Tomas Hertl, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun stated Thursday, referencing conversations he’s had with different NHL GMs. Hertl signed an eight-year, $65.1 million extension with the Sharks in March, and has a full no-move clause in his contract till the tip of the 2024-25 season.
Causes for Grier’s reported willingness to hear on nearly everyone would appear to be apparent: To unencumber wage cap house, get youthful as a corporation, and hopefully higher place themselves to be common playoff contenders sooner or later.
No strikes look like imminent, but when parting with a number of the core gamers is Grier’s intention over the following couple of seasons, like LeBrun indicated, it gained’t be pain-free.
Erik Karlsson’s contract, which lasts till the tip of the 2026-27 season, carries a full no-movement clause and an annual cap hit of $11.5 million – a doubtlessly radioactive mixture to any potential commerce.
To make a deal, assuming Karlsson is on board, the Sharks will presumably must retain some wage, like they did once they saved 34 % of Brent Burns’s $8 million cap hit, or $2.72 million, to assist facilitate a transfer to Carolina. Groups can retain as much as 50 % of a participant’s cap hit, and the Sharks have already got about $6 million in lifeless cap house on the books for subsequent season,
The contract for Vlasic, 35, has a mean annual worth of $7 million for the following three years and a full no-move clause till the tip of this season. Then it turns right into a modified no-trade clause through which he would solely settle for a commerce to solely one in every of three groups.
Vlasic is having a bounce-back season, however Grier may additionally purchase out the ultimate three years of that deal and save over $10 million in cap house.
“I’m simply glad I’m taking part in right here,” Vlasic stated. “I’ve been glad since I began. The group wished to signal me a 12 months prematurely (in 2017) and I wished to be right here a 12 months prematurely.
“They’ve at all times had that confidence in me and the need to maintain me right here, and I’ve at all times had that need, even earlier than the rest.”
The contracts for Couture, Bonino, Alexander Barabanov, and James Reimer even have modified no-trade clauses.
“I’ve realized that slightly bit, particularly when you might have a household and also you’re arrange at college and stuff,” Bonino stated. “However you need to be having enjoyable taking part in hockey and that’s what it comes right down to, to win video games. For me, I’m tremendous completely happy right here, love the group, love the path we’re going.”
The Sharks’ most intriguing participant proper now could be winger Timo Meier, who scored his first aim of the season Thursday and is within the last 12 months of a four-year, $24 million contract. He is because of grow to be a restricted-free agent subsequent summer season.
Meier is making $10 million in wage this season and the Sharks would wish to provide him that a lot in a qualifying provide to retain his rights. Meier had a team-high 35 targets final season however has just one aim within the Sharks’ first 10 video games.
Meier doesn’t have commerce safety and will command a pleasant return if he and the Sharks can not come to phrases on a brand new deal. Similar to the Calgary Flames did with Matthew Tkachuk in the summertime, it’s doable Meier may go to a different group in a sign-and-trade to maximise the return for Grier.
“I don’t actually pay an excessive amount of consideration as a result of in the event you learn into that stuff an excessive amount of, you’re going to drive your self loopy,” Meier stated Friday.
That gave the impression to be the theme of the day. That doesn’t imply, although, that adjustments should not on the horizon.
Sharks coach David Quinn stated he and Grier haven’t had any conversations alongside these strains however added, “that’s professional sports activities. I get folks type of bounce to conclusions, but when a GM isn’t speaking to each GM and doing homework – you’re at all times making an attempt to enhance the group.”
